Nipper

Yes, his shirt says "Dad is my hero," but it was I who was SuperMom for a day this week.  Luke has been asking to go to my "horse place" for a while now, so I took him and in so doing became pretty darn cool to my 3-year-old! 

Meet Nipper.  He is the very antithesis of his name, serving as our trusty school horse as I taught Luke how to properly groom a horse.

It just so happened that the barn received a hay delivery that day too.  What boy wouldn't want to watch this truck do it's thing for a while?!

And then there's the wood shavings pile.  I'm pretty confident that a wood shavings pile could serve as a babysitter for a good hour or more.

Oh!  Sun is in my eyes!

We finished off the day with a ride in the "shavings truck," which I didn't realize until now looking at the picture that it could also serve as the Pirate Mobile given the weapons adorning the front bumper.  All in good fun.

 

Pat on the back, Mom.  Ya done good.  

Truly, a beautiful day with my son.

Window in my Mouth

Isaac lost his first tooth.  It was really quite exciting!  He barely had to pull on it at all.  To be honest with you, I think it started getting loose in the first place because he uses his bottom teeth to pry apart Legos.  Whichever way they come.

Luke is also pretty convinced he has a loose tooth.  Not yet Bud, but you are C-U-T-E!

Boas in Tombstone

For the first time since they all moved out of the house as young adults, my Grandma spent Mothers Day with all three of her daughters.  At Tombstone.  In feather boas.

 

 Aunt Lisa, Mom, Grandma, and Aunt Lauri

I love you all!

Beauty of the Church

We are just three months away from moving into our new church building.  Really very excited!  Yesterday was the day they were mounting two crosses on top of the building, so those who were available came for a service for the Blessing and Sanctification of a Newly-Fashioned Cross.  After that, we watched as they hoisted them up.  Thanks be to God!

Fr. John blessing the Cross with Holy Water.

 

Fr. John and Subdeacon Charles, the superintendent on the job.

A glimpse of the inside.

The Cross is the preserver of the whole world!  The Cross is the beauty of the Church!  The Cross is the might of kings!  The Cross is the support of the faithful!  The Cross is the glory of angels and the wounding of demons!  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

~ from the Order for the Blessing and Sanctification of a Newly-Fashioned Cross

Lamby

Luke and his Lamby have been a pair since Day 1. Sweet.

Baby Blues

I am heartbroken.

I was head-over-heels enamored with a bluebird pair who spent weeks nesting in my new bluebird house.  Then one day two weeks ago, they were gone, never to return.  Inside the house is a beautiful nest, waiting.  I wonder what could have happened.  Surely it wasn't my beloved Jack Russell Terror and two wild Indians disturbing the peace?

Alas, here's Mama...

And Dad...

Come back, my dears.

Blessed by Bryn

A couple weeks ago, my college roommate, Bryn came to visit from New Hampshire.  I hope she had as nice a time as I did!  She adores the boys.  The feeling is mutual.  One of our days was spent with our suitemate, Amy. Another was spent at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.  The others were spent coloring, whatnots and etceteras.

Stormtroopers

It's Star Wars 24/7 around our place.  The boys have seen the movie once 11 months ago, but I guess it made an impression.  So when I heard about a Star Wars event at the local library, I knew we had to go.  Someone, who will remain nameless, was a little too scared to have his picture taken with the stormtroopers.

Eggs for Pascha

It's a wonder, every year.

Knowing Trees

"Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence." ~ Hal Borland

Give the Boy Legos

He's done it again...all by himself.  

Mathematician

There are number guys in the genes, but they skipped us.  So it was a pleasant surprise when Isaac starting working numbers all on his own.  He is our budding mathematician, and we are proud.